Shoulder and arm support

Abstract

A shoulder and arm support for supporting either the left shoulder and arm or the right shoulder and arm of a patient. The support includes a case which has a shoulder strap secured thereto and a body strap secured thereto. The case has an interior compartment in which a resilient cushion and an air inflatable bladder are positioned. The case includes an outer panel which is pivotally secured to the upper panel of the case and which is pivotally movable between first and second positions. The inflation of the bladder causes the outer panel to be moved from its first position to its second position. The exterior surface of the upper panel has a plurality of arm straps adjustably positioned thereon.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for supporting and treating a patient's shoulder and arm, comprising:
 a case configured to be positioned at one side of the patient; 
  said case comprising:
 (a) an upstanding inner panel having an inner side, an outer side, an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second side; 
 (b) said inner side of said upstanding inner panel being curved so as to be capable of conforming to the side of the patient; 
 (c) an upstanding first side panel having an upper end, a lower end, an inner end, and an outer end; 
 (d) said inner end of said upstanding first side panel being joined to said first side of said upstanding inner panel; 
 (e) said outer end of said upstanding first side panel extending downwardly and outwardly from said upper end of said upstanding first side panel to said lower end of said upstanding first side panel; 
 (f) an upstanding second side panel having an upper end, a lower end, an inner end, and an outer end; 
 (g) said inner end of said upstanding second side panel being joined to said second side of said upstanding inner panel; 
 (h) said outer end of said upstanding second side panel extending downwardly and outwardly from said upper end of said upstanding second side panel to said lower end of said upstanding second side panel 
 (i) a horizontally disposed bottom panel having an inner end, an outer end, a first side and a second side; 
 (j) said inner end of said horizontally disposed bottom panel being joined to said lower end of said upstanding inner panel; 
 (k) said first side of said horizontally disposed bottom panel being joined to said lower end of said upstanding first side panel; 
 (l) said second side of said horizontally disposed bottom panel being joined to said lower end of said upstanding second side panel; 
 (m) a horizontally disposed upper panel having an inner end, an outer end, a first side, a second side; 
 (n) said inner end of said horizontally disposed upper panel being joined to said upper end of said upstanding inner panel; 
 (o) said first side of said horizontally disposed upper panel being joined to said upper end of said upstanding first side panel; 
 (p) said second side of said horizontally disposed upper panel being joined to said upper end of said upstanding second side panel; 
 (q) an outer panel having an inner end, an outer end, a first side and a second side; 
 (r) said inner end of said outer panel being pivotally joined to said outer end of said horizontally disposed upper panel whereby said outer panel is movable between first and second positions; 
 (s) each of said upstanding inner panel, said upstanding first side panel, said upstanding second side panel, said horizontally disposed bottom panel, said horizontally disposed upper panel and said outer panel having interior and exterior surfaces; 
 (t) a flexible bellow having an inner end, an outer end, a first side including first and second side portions, and a second side including third and fourth side portions; 
 (u) said first side portion being joined to said outer end of said upstanding first side panel; 
 (v) said second side portion being joined to said first side of said outer panel; 
 (w) said third side portion being joined to said outer end of said upstanding second side panel; 
 (x) said fourth side portion being joined to said second side of said outer panel; 
 (y) said upstanding inner panel, said upstanding first side panel, said upstanding second side panel and said horizontally disposed bottom panel defining an interior compartment which is closed by said bellow and said outer panel; 
 (z) a resilient foam cushion positioned in said interior compartment; 
 (aa) said resilient foam cushion having an inner end, an outer end, an upper end, a lower end, a first side and a second side; 
 (bb) an air inflatable bladder positioned in said interior compartment outwardly of said outer end of said resilient foam cushion; 
 (cc) said air inflatable bladder being configured to be moved between a collapsed position and an inflated position; 
 (dd) said outer panel is configured to be moved from said first position towards said second position; 
 (ee) said outer panel having a plurality of arm supports secured to said respective exterior surface; 
 (ff) a length adjustable shoulder strap having first and second ends; 
 (gg) said first end of said length adjustable shoulder strap being secured to said upstanding first side panel at said upper end thereof; 
 (hh) said second end of said length adjustable shoulder strap being secured to said upstanding second side panel at said upper end thereof; 
 (ii) a length adjustable body strap having first and second ends; 
 (jj) said first end of said length adjustable body strap being secured to said upstanding first side panel at said lower end thereof; and 
 (kk) said second end of said length adjustable body strap being secured to said upstanding second side panel at said lower end thereof. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein a first air inlet/discharge line extends from one end of said air inflatable bladder with the first air inlet/discharge line being connected to a source of air under pressure configured to inflate or deflate said air inflatable bladder. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein a second air inlet/discharge line extends from a second end of said air inflatable bladder with said second inlet/discharge line being connected to a source of air under pressure configured to inflate and deflate said air inflatable bladder. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein said first air inlet/discharge line may be used when the device is configured to support the left shoulder and arm of a person and wherein said second air inlet/discharge line may be used when the device is being used to support the right shoulder and arm of a person. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein said outer panel has a stiffener plate secured therein. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  may be used to support either the left arm and shoulder or the right arm and shoulder of the patient. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein a plate is positioned at an outer side of said resilient foam cushion. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein said air inflatable bladder has first and second ends and wherein first and second air inlet/discharge lines extend from said first and second ends of said air inflatable bladder respectively to enable the device to be used to support the left shoulder and arm of a person or to support the right shoulder and arm of a person. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  wherein said outer panel is disposed at 20 degrees from vertical when in said first position and wherein said outer panel is disposed at 90 degrees from vertical when in said second position.